This tag marks questions that involve the player character's skills and abilities being challenged by the GM in a non-combat way.
4
votes
2answers
104 views
What skills can I use for a mounted chase?
I recently found these pathfinder rules about using skill checks for running a chase. I would like to adapt them to my D&D game, however, I wanted to run a mounted chase. Are there any skill ...
4
votes
3answers
158 views
Retrying a failed skill challenge
On page 74 of the
DMG (Step 5: Consequences), it says that if you fail a skill challenge, it can become more difficult, such as detouring you in a different direction. Could you attempt the same ...
3
votes
1answer
175 views
What is the difference between Skill Challenges and Skill Checks?
I was reading the DMG (p 72 to be specific), and I noticed that "haggling with a merchant" is just a simple Diplomacy check and not a complete skill challenge. How does a "skill check" differ from a ...
13
votes
4answers
328 views
Festival Mini Games
My D&D party will be going to a town with a festival in it. Generally during festivals there may be some games that are going on, kind of like small carnival type games or "mini games", ones that ...
8
votes
2answers
366 views
How to manage character arguments / conflict?
I'm a new DM and have just started a 4e game as Play by Post.
The game has started with one character (Bob) recruiting in a pub and the first response was from another character (Al) wanting to ...
6
votes
3answers
138 views
How should I make a musical performance into a skill check that is interesting and dynamic?
So in the past I have ran 3.5 DnD while one of the characters was a bard that was in a band with other bard NPC's and occasionally, they hosted concerts in Inns.
The way I did it back then was a ...
5
votes
4answers
562 views
Should I announce to the players they are in a skill challenge?
I am completely new to DMing and I am considering including a skill challenge in my next game. Most of the players are new to 4e and one of them is new to D&D in general. Should I explain to them ...
5
votes
3answers
107 views
Information about a solstice - what skill to challenge?
I'm adding a plot hook about some murders that take place on each winter and summer solstice. (It's up to the characters to find out that a mysterious wizard who lives south of town comes into town ...
12
votes
3answers
332 views
Non-combat objective: Delay larger enemy force
I'm re-writing the "Battle of Albridge" encounters from The DM-kit's Reavers of Harkenwold. As supplied they are mostly just a rehash of earlier fight-to-the-death skirmishes on re-used maps. Instead ...
5
votes
3answers
618 views
Skill Checks in 4e — specific help
For the purposes of this question, please assume that I have four characters in play. They all have "Acrobatics" skill. They are 1st, 5th, 10th, and 15th levels respectively.
They are in a bar and ...
5
votes
2answers
249 views
How to fix this scenario for D&D Encounters?
I just finished running a D&D Encounters season 3 ep 11 session, and I'm dissatisfied with how it ended; I want to fix it next week with a bit of retroactive play before moving on to the finale.
...
6
votes
4answers
253 views
How do I work Powers into Skill Challenges?
I am a rather new DM (returning after 18 years) and I had a question about running a Skill Challenge called "Give it Back".
The party was chasing a thief through the market and the mage said "I'm ...
10
votes
4answers
410 views
What rules govern the use of encounter powers in extended-duration skill challenges?
A party with a shaman and a bard are navigating an "imperial bureaucracy." Abstracted into one skill challenge, this presents the process of moving from bureaucrat to bureaucrat, meetings over ...
4
votes
2answers
270 views
How can you add more meaning to skill challenges through narration?
This question is inspired by Baker's discussion of "What's at Stake?" and "Skill Challenges: All in the Cards"
I run many of my 4e games as pregen adventures and the skill challenges tend to be ...
5
votes
2answers
305 views
Combat Skill Challenges
I've seen a combat run as a skill challenge before, and it worked quite well. I'm wondering, though, if anyone has made more formal rules for a combat skill challenge, beyond "pick main skills and set ...
8
votes
5answers
319 views
How do you involve all players in a skill challenge?
I really liked some of the answers given to the question about enhancing skill challenges particularly the ones related to making it more role-playing based.
So, now the question is, when you get to ...
41
votes
12answers
1k views
How do I make skill checks more than just sequences of die chucking?
I think I don't get skill challenges.
As I understand it at some point I break the narrative by proclaiming:
"This is a skill challenge. You need 5 victories before you reach 3 failures. Go"
And then ...
6
votes
4answers
328 views
Need skill challenge ideas for Nature
Beyond tracking and survival I could sure appreciate some brainstorming around good ideas for skill challenges using Nature.
Ability to add in Diplomacy, Bluff, Religion, History and Arcana are ...
17
votes
5answers
538 views
What makes a skill challenge great?
What makes a skill challenge a good one. What makes then enjoyable and fun? What ways can we make them memorable?
